Xi Jinping Moves to Strengthen Control Amid Turmoil in China’s Military Leadership

On the surface, China’s military presents an image of growing strength. Its naval vessels are venturing farther into international waters, its nuclear arsenal expands by roughly 100 warheads annually, and military aircraft frequently conduct flights near Taiwan, projecting increasing force. Additionally, the country regularly showcases new military technology, including stealth fighter prototypes and innovative amphibious landing craft.

However, beneath this powerful exterior, the military is grappling with significant leadership instability. Notably, three of the seven seats on the Central Military Commission—the Communist Party body overseeing the armed forces—appear vacant following arrests or unexplained disappearances of key members.

This internal upheaval challenges President Xi Jinping’s long-standing campaign to forge a modern, loyal, and combat-ready military firmly under his command. Xi has targeted 2027 for completing the modernization of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), alongside ambitions—according to various officials—to develop the capability to launch an invasion of Taiwan, which China claims as its own.

The current purge has reached commanders personally selected by Xi, revealing persistent issues within a system he has sought to reform for years. Following his rise to power in 2012, Xi initiated a sweeping anti-corruption drive within the military and implemented structural reforms aimed at consolidating tighter control.

Experts note that Xi’s intolerance for disloyalty or misconduct among his military ranks runs deep. Joseph Torigian, an associate professor at American University with expertise on Chinese civil-military relations, explains, “For Xi Jinping, control over the military is a matter of survival. Any sign of deviation from loyalty is met with swift and severe consequences.”